tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post6944811567059222609..comments2024-02-24T06:21:30.987+01:00Comments on A view from the cycle path: Stairs are dangerous - wear a helmetDavid Hembrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-42923656094238004772015-12-07T14:41:49.637+01:002015-12-07T14:41:49.637+01:00Regardless of how safe helmets might make you in ...Regardless of how safe helmets might make you in a collision, the thing that really saves lives is not having the collision at all. After all, your head might be fine in a collision with a truck but your heart and lungs might be directly under the wheels without proper means of avoiding a right hook collision. And of course head injuries cannot occur if the collisions themselves do not occur. Multiparty Democracy Todayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359081992141220593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-25183696322637525942015-02-17T23:08:53.148+01:002015-02-17T23:08:53.148+01:00What youre dealing with, with the helmet issue, is...What youre dealing with, with the helmet issue, is the culture of each different country involved. NL has a very liberal attitude with respect to, amongst other things, personal safety so helmets arent mandatory. Its more of personal responsibility thing. Other cultures may have a completely different mindset. Even if you look at canals in urban areas in NL, you rarely see fences protecting Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08374903551900226494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-79476586903261240822015-02-16T14:26:44.782+01:002015-02-16T14:26:44.782+01:00Are racing bikes dangerous? Not if you grew up wit...Are racing bikes dangerous? Not if you grew up with cycling. Ive seen a lot of immigrants learning to cycle for the first time as adults. It doesnt look pretty. I think racing bikes are safe for experienced cyclists but maybe not a good idea for everybody. I do still think youre more vulnerable going 'head first' on a racing model certainly in congested bike traffic. The accident i Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08374903551900226494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-15330752284994769872015-02-16T13:19:24.988+01:002015-02-16T13:19:24.988+01:00Forgot one thing: I think bicycle helmets are all ...Forgot one thing: I think bicycle helmets are all flawed as they really only protect the top of your head. <br /><br />p.s. I dont think i should have gotten involved in this thread living in NL. I understand some countries make it mandatory to use a helmet. This is utterly stupid as, like you pointed out, other things are far more dangerous. Anyway, you can delete my comment if want. This Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08374903551900226494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-21834561421416994172015-02-16T12:58:39.145+01:002015-02-16T12:58:39.145+01:00an3z: Then we're completely in agreement. Howe...an3z: Then we're completely in agreement. However I think we have to also agree that even less safe types of bikes such as racing bikes aren't really that dangerous.<br /><br />I get my racing bike out on sunny sundays sometimes for the fun of it. There's something special about the feel of riding on high pressure narrow tyres while staring at the ground. Actual speed over distance isDavid Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-65287447925027771132015-02-16T12:43:11.636+01:002015-02-16T12:43:11.636+01:00I wasnt looking to justify helmet usage at all. Wh...I wasnt looking to justify helmet usage at all. What i was trying to get at is that certain models of bicycles are safer than others. People should do a risk assessment before purchasing any vehicle. Im of the opinion that racing models are not the safest choice.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08374903551900226494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-37487609705906490632015-02-16T11:19:26.718+01:002015-02-16T11:19:26.718+01:00an3z: Do you realise you're justifying helmets...an3z: Do you realise you're justifying helmets on the basis of one anecdote in which your injury was just a scratch and you were not further harmed. That's how the human body correctly responds to small injuries. No real harm done, but it reminds you not to repeat the experience.David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-68925841383716413692015-02-15T22:55:34.145+01:002015-02-15T22:55:34.145+01:00I posted my last comment out of personal experienc...I posted my last comment out of personal experience. I flipped over forwards once on a racing bike during a collision (the spokes of my front wheel got caught on someones back axle nut...no fun and very dangerous)I landed with my forehead on the asphalt. I agree bicycle helmets dont protect much but I could have used some kind of protection! Didnt get a concussion (or worse)though. Lucky me:)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08374903551900226494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-7529107852250369352015-02-15T21:55:20.312+01:002015-02-15T21:55:20.312+01:00An3z: Actually, the faster you go, the less helmet...An3z: Actually, the faster you go, the less helmetsmake sscene. They're desied to absorb energy from impacts up to about 12 km/h. The amount of energy to be observed is a square law so at double tat speed the helmet can absorb just a quarter of the energy and at four times the speed, only a sixteenth.<br /><br />While racers use helmets, they actually don't gain much safety from them.<br David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-85059740910658331422015-02-15T21:02:25.132+01:002015-02-15T21:02:25.132+01:00I think the whole helmet thing comes out of the bi...I think the whole helmet thing comes out of the bicycle racing scene. Cultures outside of NL probably dont make a distinction between racing and utilitarian cycling. The utilitarian approach can be very clearly seen in the upright design of typical dutch bikes which arent suited for racing at all. Slow speeds dont necessitate helmet usage. Higher speed cycling with a more horizontal attitude of Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08374903551900226494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-85592726664641000512012-07-23T08:43:29.735+02:002012-07-23T08:43:29.735+02:00Ian: Bicycles also come as standard with mandated ...Ian: Bicycles also come as standard with mandated safety equipment. Brakes, for instance. In most jurisdictions you must have two independent systems because brakes are essential for safety. These are the near equivalent of banisters for bikes.<br /><br />However, no-one is suggesting that climbing of stairs should require safety clothing.<br /><br />Incidentally, in the Netherlands it is legal David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-58726641079167907382012-07-23T00:25:18.829+02:002012-07-23T00:25:18.829+02:00Stairs already come with safety equipment that'...Stairs already come with safety equipment that's mandated by law here in the US. It's called a bannister and all stairs over (IIRC) 6 steps are supposed to have them.<br /><br />So the idea that safety equipment for bicycle riding is unnecessary because safety equipment is not required to use stairs is, frankly, nonsense. It's a straw man.Ian Brett Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11144195897514392433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-35304018699546288402012-05-14T08:54:13.442+02:002012-05-14T08:54:13.442+02:00Poiuyt Man: There is no statistical inaccuracy in ...Poiuyt Man: There is no statistical inaccuracy in the article. At no point does the article attempt to tell you anything which isn't true.<br /><br />It's really very simple: According to the source that I used in the article, in the USA, 17x as many people are killed by stairs as by bicycles. However, in the same country, there is a virtual hysteria over the "need" to wear a David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-31044042648487237912012-05-13T14:18:20.367+02:002012-05-13T14:18:20.367+02:00I am disappointed by the bias and statistical accu...I am disappointed by the bias and statistical accuracy in this article. As pointed out by others, the figure for stair falls is likely misquoted, being the figure for falls in general. Additionally, there is sampling bias in that being "nearly 17x as dangerous" does not account for the large difference in number of people that use stairs everyday vs. number of people that ride a bike Poiuyt Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17567363759351429096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-83519138909513006752011-11-08T22:39:38.375+01:002011-11-08T22:39:38.375+01:00Last year I fell down some steel steps when my com...Last year I fell down some steel steps when my company was inspecting the progress of a <a href="http://cecsteel.com" rel="nofollow">structural steel fabrication</a>. So it doesn't surprise me that stairs are the second largest cause of unintended injuries. I do think you go too far, though: if you think about how many people use stairs each day (usually more than once) compared to how many Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07404073850282906118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-26844514038857155392011-03-21T19:34:57.481+01:002011-03-21T19:34:57.481+01:00Your implication that stairs aren't being regu...Your implication that stairs aren't being regulated as heavily as bicycles even though the risk of injury is greater isn't really accurate.<br /><br />Every building code regulates the size of stair landings, stair width, clear head height, riser height, tread depth, nosing size, handrail height, handrail location, handrail diameter, opening size allowed in handrails, extension of the Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-11745766073483143052011-03-14T22:55:11.509+01:002011-03-14T22:55:11.509+01:00aseasyasridingabike: I didn't particularly hav...aseasyasridingabike: I didn't particularly have you, or anyone else, in mind when I wrote that. In itself, I quite enjoy the discussion. However, none of it is really the point.<br /><br />Motor vehicles kill <a href="http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2010/02/this-must-never-happen-again.html" rel="nofollow">1.2 million people per year</a>, injure 50 million and damage the health of rather more David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-43975089709283167692011-03-14T22:48:40.769+01:002011-03-14T22:48:40.769+01:00Doug: You've missed the point. In fact, you...Doug: You've missed the point. In fact, you've somehow turned it complete around on its head.<br /><br />Cycling is not dangerous. Even here where it is <a href="http://hembrow.blogspot.com/search/label/millionperhour" rel="nofollow">something that the masses do every day</a>, cycling still accounts for only a minority of deaths.<br /><br />What's more, despite <a href="http://David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-51699955936823964072011-03-14T22:47:10.323+01:002011-03-14T22:47:10.323+01:00"Some people in the comments are getting a bi..."Some people in the comments are getting a bit too interested in exact statistics for how dangerous stairs are. Actually, this isn't really the point."<br /><br />Sorry David. I thought I had made it clear that I agreed with the general thrust of your argument - it was just a minor statistical quibble.<br /><br />Apologies for the diversion!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-6032633052561197572011-03-14T22:08:31.556+01:002011-03-14T22:08:31.556+01:00Claiming that skydiving is safe is butchering the ...Claiming that skydiving is safe is butchering the statistics there too. One death per 122,000 trips, where each trip lasts only a few minutes and covers perhaps three miles? Well, part of the trip is going up, let's say ten miles (Not that the distance really matters for our purposes here.)<br /><br />Cars are a whole lot safer than that. If you estimate that the average person makes Doug McLarennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-86030017287466327702011-03-14T19:48:36.845+01:002011-03-14T19:48:36.845+01:00Doug: I did sky-diving in a previous post.Doug: I did sky-diving <a href="http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2008/12/extreme-sport.html" rel="nofollow">in a previous post</a>.David Hembrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14543024940730663645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-26949181883376802772011-03-14T19:46:03.828+01:002011-03-14T19:46:03.828+01:00Ahh yes, the "X times as many people die doin...Ahh yes, the "X times as many people die doing Y than Z, so Y is X times more dangerous than Z" argument.<br /><br />Once again, skydiving and Russian Roulette beat stairs and bicycling handily in the safety through statistics department!Doug McLarennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-51624957994839084422011-03-14T19:31:45.869+01:002011-03-14T19:31:45.869+01:00"Exercise at least three days a week to impro..."Exercise at least three days a week to improve strength, flexibility and balance."<br /><br />Does working out on a stair climbing machine reduce your risk by making you more fit, or increase it by increasing your exposure to stairs?Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10480981438117415642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-23160640568020305242011-03-14T19:18:01.488+01:002011-03-14T19:18:01.488+01:00Very well written piece of text David! There are s...Very well written piece of text David! There are some horrible number you present there.112000 deaths by overweight, that's a third of my hometown (Malmö, Sweden) each year! And a simple bike could fix this in a jiffy!<br /><br />For daily exercises I would recommend everybody to look the name Hans Kraus up. The first one to connect exercise and health together. There is a very inspiring bookMarcushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05780054148611159347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3102538965694240940.post-46862059981594269492011-03-14T18:48:46.555+01:002011-03-14T18:48:46.555+01:00"Exercise at least three days a week to impro..."Exercise at least three days a week to improve strength, flexibility and balance."<br /><br />Hummm, what sort of exercise would be use full in achieving this? I know, riding a bicycle...Kimhttp://kimharding.net/blog/?cat=9noreply@blogger.com